On this day: February 13

2012: The European Space Agency conducts the first launch of the European Vega rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The four-stage rocket was designed to give Europe a vehicle for scientific satellite missions. The first rocket carried nine scientific satellites into space.

Gen. David Petraeus pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday to end a probe into whether he provided classified information to his mistress when he was CIA director, according to a U.S. official briefed on the matter.